He told shelter director Boonchoo Muangmaithong that the transvestites, by winning the pageant, had improved their position in life and that he encouraged them to do charity work.

The contestants presented scholarships to the Boonchu House kids and provided lunch.

The Nov. 14-17 Miss Mimosa pageant featured Thai transvestites and transsexuals new to beauty pageants, banning winners or second-place finishers in the established Miss Tiffany and Alcazar beauty pageants from participating. Contestants had to be Thai 18-30 years of age, unsigned to any modeling or sponsorship contract, drug-free and good English speakers.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday February 7, 2014 (Vol. XXII No. 6).